The impact of zero tolerance on student academic achievement and retention

This study showed that emerging trends showing zero tolerance policies having negative effects on school children, especially those of poor and/or minority background, make an elementary district\u27s recently implemented zero tolerance style for fifth and sixth graders an interesting area of study. It is well accepted that when established and enforced with fidelity and consistency students will acclimate to new rules. The extreme cases like the tragic incident at Columbine aside school administration has a fiducuary duty to provide a safe learning environment, and many studies show that learning either does not occur or occurs at a diminished rate in a disorderly and unsafe environment, but the goal of discipline should be to modify and correct behavior to provide an education, not deny it